Lawmakers must stop stalling on health care

Nearly half of the states have agreed to expand their Medicaid programs next year under the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. While 21 states have opted out, the debate continues in six others.

That includes Ohio, where the debate has become interesting.

It's interesting because a Republican governor wants support on an issue unpopular with the GOP-controlled Legislature. On Medicaid expansion, many Democrats are aligned with Gov. John Kasich.

During the recently completed budget, Kasich called for expanding Medicaid to more than 275,000 Ohioans. Beyond helping the uninsured, he said Ohio needed to take advantage of the $13 billion in federal aid that expansion would bring to the state over seven years.

But the proposal was cut from the budget bill by conservatives who argued that the federal government can't afford it and that states could get stuck paying the tab. Some wanted assurances that Medicaid recipients would participate in job training.

Last week, Kasich and others urged lawmakers not to put off the Medicaid issue that long. ...

GOP leaders in both the House and Senate have pledged to work on separate legislation regarding Medicaid, but hearings aren't scheduled until August and September. ...

With major health care changes fast approaching on the federal level, lawmakers must overcome politics and do what's best for the state. The sooner they find a way to make meaningful reforms, the better off Ohio will be.

- The (Findlay) Courier

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Lawmakers must stop stalling on health care

Nearly half of the states have agreed to expand their Medicaid programs next year under the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. While 21 states have opted out, the debate continues in six others.